Lead-pencil



(No Model.) i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. E. WIRT.

LEAD PENCIL.

No. 370,438. Patented Sept. 27, 1887.

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(NoModeLj 4 2 sheets-sheen 2. P. E. WIRT.

LEAD PENCIL. y No. 370,438.- Patented Sept. 27, 1887.V

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l'iltirlrtti STATES PATENT Orifice.

PAUL E. WIRT, OF BLOOMSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

LEAD-PENCIL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,438, dated September 27, 1887.

Application lilcdd'anuary 19,1887. Serial No. 29.4591. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, PAUL E. VIRT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomsburg, in the county of Columbia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lead-Pencils, of which the following is a specification.

My invcntionrelates to au improvementin lead-pencils, and to that class which employs a movable lead, the design being to provide means for propelling the lead to the point of the pencil. t

The object of thc improvement herein contemplated is to give a ehi-ap and simple propelling lead-pencil, wherein constant sharpening is avoided, which will cost but a trie more than the ordinary wooden peneil,though possessing advantages fourfold, which will never grow short, but can be used while any portion 0i' the lead remains, and in which the lead cannot retreat or be forced back within the case when the pressure during writing is exerted. l

\Vith these ends in view the invention cousists, broadly, in actuating a movablelead by means ol' a cord or thread, which is drawn upon or wound to cause the lead to be forced forward.

lt also consistsin providingr a movable spindle inside the case oi' the pencil, on which spindle the cord is wound.

It further consists in making a portion or section of the pencil-case movable, preferably either of the end sections, and connecting thc thread or cord to such movable section, so that the turning ol' the latter causes the cord to be drawn upon or wound so as to forcethe lead outward.

rlheinvention consists, further, in certain minor details of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of my improved pencil complete. Fig. 2 is aj-'ertical longitudinal section, the parts being enlarged. Fig. 3 is a detached view, partly in section, with the frout or point section and the ferrule or eraser-cap removed. Fig. 4- is an enlarged section of the ferrule or movable end section of the case and its spindle. Fig. 5 is a detailside view 0f the` pencil-ease with the ferrule and point-section removed, illustrating certain improvements in the method of supporting the doubled ends of the cord. Fig. (i is a detail ectonal view` of the case, showing another improvement in A the method of guiding the thread or cord. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section of a modification of that construction shown in the previousgures ot' the drawings, in which modication the spindle on which the cord is wound is connected to the point-section. Fig. 8 is a detailed View of thespindle and cord or thread shown in this latter figure. Fig. .l is a longitudinal section of another form of` my invention. Fig. l0 is a detail view of the point section of the pencil-case.

Like letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

referring to thc drawings, A designates a cylindrical case or handie, preferably constructed of wood for cheapness only, as such material` will answer all the purposes, though it may be made of hard rubber or other suitable material. This ease or handle is bored throughout its length to rcceivea movable lead of any color and any preferred size. rihis lead (designated by the letter B) occupies the entire length of the central opening o1=bore,a, of the case or handle, and may be in one single pieee. The diameter of the bore c should be slightly larger than the diameter of the lead B, when no special guiding means forthe cord or thread is provided, l'or in such ease the cord or thread has to occupy the bore a along with the lead. This is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but when guide-grooves for the cord or thread `are employed he bore a should but slightly exceed the diameter ofthe lead B. The ends of the ease or handle at the lower edge are extended beyond the extremity of the bore a, as at b d, and these extensions are perforatedto provide eyes (two in number) c f, the letter e designating the eyes at the point end of the case or handle, while the letter f refers to the eyes at the other end.

C designates a greased cord or thread of silk or other strong material doubled at each end of the case or holder and passed through the eyes e f at said ends, the diameter of the eyes preferably exceeding the width of the cord or IOO thread, so that the latter can be drawn readily through the eyes.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, the thread or cord is doubled at both endsof the case or handle, forming two branches of the cord or thread, both of which branches occupy the bore a. One end of the cord is attached to a movable block or follower,-D, cylindrical in form and dceupying the bore c at the rear end of the rnovable lead B. I

It will be apparent that when the cord or thread is drawn upon,the block or followerl) is carried down the bore a,and,pressing against the rear end of the movable lead B, forces the latter forward and feeds it to the point of the pencil as re'quired.

To provide simple and eci'ent means fdr actuating the thread or cord and moving the lead forward, as stated, I employ a rotating spindle, E, which may be secured to the ferrule or butt-end section .of the peneil,as shown in Figs. l to 7 ,vinclusive, or to the point-sec tion, as shown in Figs. 7 and S. This spindle E is provided with a prolongation or extension, h, which serves as a drum on which the cord or thread is wound, saidvprolongation or extension being perforated for the attachment of the rear end of the cord or thread. lt will be understood that as the spindle E is rotated the cord or thread is wound upon the prolongation or extension h, as seen clearly in Fig. 2, for the purpose heretofore explained.

To provide for the operation of the spindle from the exterier, I fasten or secure the spindle rigidly to the ferrule, eraser-cap, or butt'- end section, F. This butt-end section or fen rule serves two purposes: it eonnes the eraser G, and also serves as a medium for operating the spindle To enable `this operation of the ferrule or bnttend section of the pencil and yet prevent it Vtroni coming ed, I groove the rear end of the case or handle A annularly, as at i, and indent or groove the fer-rule, 4as atl', the indentation of the ferrule occupying he groove ofthe ease or handle. By this arrangement it will be understood that the annular indentation of the ferrule turns within 'the groove of the case or handle, and at the saine time the ferrule cannot come ofi.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. The spindle being' rigidly held to the ferrule or butt section, when the latter is turned by the fingers of the user, the cord or thread is drawn upon and the slack taken up or wound on the prolongation or extension. The drawing of the cord rearwardly forces the follower or block against the rear end of the pencil and feeds the front or point end thereof forward to the required degree. To provide' for holding the lead from dropping out, the point-section K is made small enough at the orifice or passage m, where the lead comesont, to bind slightly about the lead and prevent the saine from slipping from the case. rflic point-section K and butt-end seetion'F are both made from thin metal, the former preferably of such metal as has aslight elasticity or spring to contribute. toward the holding of the lead. This retaining actionof the point-section K may be still further 1ncreased by slitting it to provide engaging spring-tongues, or the inner surface of the point-section at the orice m may be serrated or corrugated to bite upon the lead. These and other like modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

It will be understood that as the thread or cord lies alongside the lead throughout, it also aids to keep the lead bound within the case.

All tendency of the lead to retreat or be forced back by the pressure of the point thereof on the paper is overcome bythe block or follower D,as the pressure of the lead rearwardly is against the movement of the cord. I do not wish to be limited to the use of the block or follower K as a means for acting upon the rear end of the lead, as a simple knot may be found sufficient for all the purposes.

ln Fig. Y5 I show an improvement in the method oi' supporting the doubled portions of the cord or thread. Instead of extending the case or. handle A, as at efin Figs. l, 2, and 3, l cut off the ends of the case perfectly plain,and provide small screw-eyes cf, which arescrewed into the respective ends of the case or handle. and receive the double portions of the corn or thread. The operation is in no wisechanged by this improvement in the construction of parts.

in Fig. 6 I provide guide-groovesn (one or two, as circumstances may require) on one or more sides of the bore n. This improvement is especially desirable where strong or thick thread isemployed, in order to make room for the thread and no/tl cause it to bear or crowd too strongly against the lead.

in Figs. 7 and 8 is shown a modification in which the spindle E is rigidly secured to the pointfsection K, said point-section being mov able in the saine manner as the ferrule or buttend section is shown and described to be in the other figures of the drawings. In this forni the spindle E is provided with a central opening, o, through which the lead passes in being propelled or drawn out. The pointsection is indented or grooved round the lower end of the case or handle. so as to be rotary movable about the same'. The thread or cord C in this instance only makes one turn, or, rather, is doubled only at one point-namely. the point n' or eye c-and only one thickness IIO ofthe thread lies alongside of the lead within the case.

The operation of thisi'orm of my invention 370,438 l i e the ordinary wooden pencil, and yet never reafford room for the thread as it is woundV quire sharpening, cannot grow short, and canv be used while any portion of the lead remains in the case or handle. i v

In Figs. 9 and 10 I show another modification of the construction. This form I prefer, as it embodies theA most simple, practicable, and elhcacious type of this style of pencil. The construction shown in Figs. 9 and 10 very closely resembles "hat which is illus` trated in Figs. 7 and 8. ',Ihe spindle E is in the last formv represented in the form of a tube, the front edge or end of which is rigidly secured to the inner side of the point-section Ii. The said pointsection is movable around thefront end of the ease or handle A, in the manner before described. The front end of the case or handle is provided with a conical-V shaped, daring, or enlarged opening, K2, for the purpose of allowing the tubular spindle E to project up within the case or4 handle and around the spindle. The thread C is knotted at the inner end, as at C', which knot acts against the rear end of the movable lead. The outer end of the thread or cord is secured to the tubular spindle E at a, is wrapped around the spindle,.passes back within the enlarged opening K2, and then through the bore a of the case or handle. v

The operation of this form of my invention docs not differ in any material respect from lthat before described. The rotation of pointsection K windsthecord erthread on the tubular 4spindle E, causing the lead to be fed forward through the spindle E and beyond the point-section.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the form, proportion, or particular -construction ofthe parts described and claimed,

as such may be modified to a certain extent without departing from the spirit 0f my in,- vention.

Having thus described my invention, I,4

1. In a lcadlpencil, in combination with the case or handle containing the movable lead, the thread or vcord to feed the lead, and the spindle on which the thread or cord is wound, for the purpose set forth.

2. In alcadpcncil, in combination with the case or handle containing the lean, j e tl toV feed the movable lead, the spindle on which the cord -orlthread is wound, and the movable section of the case or handle for actuating the spindle, for the purpose set forth.

B. In a leadpencil, in combination with the case orhandle for the lead, the thread to feed the movable lead forward, and the movable section ofthe case to draw or wind up the' thread, for the purpose set forth.

Li. In a lead-pencil,rin combination with the case or handle containing the movable lead, the block or follower to feed the lead, and

means, such as the thread or cord shown, for actuating the block, as set forth. i

5. In combination with the rigid case er 7o handle containing the movablelead,the thread to move the lead when drawn upon, and the spindle independent of the case or handle to y draw the thread, as set forth. A

6. -In combination with the case on handle containing the lead,` a thread to feed the leadwhen the said thread is drawn upon, as set forth. l

7. In combination with the-,case onhandle' having a bore or passage for the movable lead, and grooved on one or both sides of the bore or passage, the actuating-thread for the lead,seatedin the grooves and connected to the lead, substantially as described.

8. In combination with the case containing the movable lead, the thread tted within the caseand doubled at one or both ends, eyes to receive the doubled ends of the thread, and the movable part for actuating the thread, as set forth.

9. In combination with the case or handle containing the lead, the thread to feed.the lead, which thread is doubled at an interrnediate point, and 'the movable part for actuating the thread, as set forth. l

10. In combination with the case or handle containing the lead, the pointsection to grasp the lead and prevent it from dropping out, and the thread for actuating the lead, as set forth.

11. In combination with the case lor liandle containing the lead, the thread to feedv the lead, and the movablespindle actuated from .the exterior to draw upon the thread, as set forth. m5

12. In combination with the case or handle containing the lead, the thread -to feed the same, and ther movable section of the case turning upon the same and serving to actuate the thread from the exterior of the case, no as set forth. I y

13. In combination with the case or handle containing the lead, the thread' to feed the, same, the spindle to draw upon the thread, and the movable end section of the caser or H5 handle rigidly connected to'the spindle and operating thethread from th'e exterior, as set forth. i

r14. In combination vwith the case or handle A .containing the lead,the movahlepoint-section, I 20 and the thread or cord actuated by the pintsection to-feed the lead, asset forth. l

15. In combination with the case or handle containing the lead, the movable point-section, the hollow spindle secured to the point- 125 section, and the thread or cord secured to the spindle and adapted te e wound thereon to feed the lead, as set forth. L

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have'hcreto aixed my signature in 130 presence 'of two witnesses..

Witnesses: PAUL E. WIRT.

ISO

C. C. Pnaooo GEO. S. Ropivs. 

